Button



Feb. 28, 1933.

v1. D. FORD I BUTTON Filed Dec. 14, 1931 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES FASTENING & BUTTON COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION-30F MICHIGAN BUTTON Application filed December 14, 31- se i 1%- ,92

This invention relates to so-called flexible buttons, and among other objects aims to provide an improved and inexpensive. flexible button composed of few parts.

The nature of the invention may be readily understood by reference to one illustrative construction embodying the invention and shown in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is an axial section on an enlarged scale, of a button (here shown with its head extended) attached to fabric, the dotted lines illustrating the capacity of the head of the button for universal tilting;

Fig. 2 is a similar axial section showing the head telescoped on its shank (as contrasted with Fig. 1 during the attachment of the button to the fabric; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the elements connecting the button to the fabric.

The illustrative button comprises a solid headed die element 10 of relatively'small diameter and a flexibly connected button head 11. The die element is in this instance formed from a short section of inexpensive soft steel rod'or wire stock of relatively small diameter (in this instance about of an inch) enlarged as at 12 at one end by a flattening or upsetting operation and having a die cup or recess 13 formed in its other end. The die recess 13 is provided with a concave curved surface 14 which serves to upset at pronged attaching fastener. The forming of the die cup serves to make the surface 14 harder and denser than the normal condition of the metal, thereby insuring the eflicient upsetting of the fastener prong.

In the present instance the button is shown attached by a double pronged fastener 15 whose prongs 16 are bent by the die surface 14 from opposite sides around and in tight engagement with a fastener engaging bar 17 or equivalent member. The bar 17 is preferably formed of strong spring steel wire and is here shown seated against the shoulder 18 inside the die cup against which it is held by crimping over portions 19 of the rim of the cup against the ends of the bar. For attachment by a single pr-onged fastener the opening into the die cup is restricted bysolne means to prevent the withdrawal of theupset fastener prong. I v

' The diameterof' the section of wire stock from which the die member'is made'need of course be only, sufficient to accommodate a die recess large enoughto upset the pronged PA ENT OFFIC IRA 1:. F031), or ROSELAND, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR 'TO UNIvERsAnnUT'roN attaching fastener. In the formation of the" die member tlie diameter of the blank remains substant ally unchanged, thus providing; a I

button whoseshank T20 is relatively small and minimizing the distortion or wrinkling of the cloth'at a buttonhole in which the shankjof the button lies e Thebutton head is here shown hollow and i compr sesa top shell 21 which advantageous;

lymay' be decora'tive in character, and a col: let 22 over whose edges the margins 23; of the shell-are crimped. The buttonis assembled by first passing the shank of the die fmemher through the hole 24 in the-collet (which is] slightly larger than that necessary merely to pass thej'sha nk of the die member) and then the shell isfcrimpedover the collet. v The shell and collet' are relatively shaped to provide a substantial hollow. space 25 to permit an adequatejtilting of the button head 11 relative to theshank ofthe die member 10. i

When thebutton is attached to tlie cloth its head is engaged bya tool which holds it firmly agalnstthe cloth while the fastener prongs are be ng upset inside the diefcup (see Fig.2). ,During the attaching opera tion and particularly when the attachment is completed, the cloth is tightly. compressed between the head ofthe" fastener 15 and the base of'the die member (see The anchorage of the fastener prong within the die cup maintains a tight grip on the cloth and thus avoids the imposition of any tear-' ingvstress on the cloth by thefa stener prong. The formation of the button head is such as to allowthe' shell 21 to'engagetheheadlof the die member during the attachingoperation and thus transmit the force of theattaching toolto thedie member. In this way nostrains are imposed on the relatively thin metal elements of the button head, during the attaching operation.

The illustrative button not only has a 2" K f r 1,899,680

shank of minimum diameter but is composed of relatively few, inexpensive elements, the single die member providing not only the shank and upsetting die butthe means for 5 preventing separation of the button head. Moreover the button provides adequate head flexibility Without a loose attachment to the cloth which would soon tear out. In other words, the button is firmly attached to the ctlsth, nevertheless-its head is adequately flex- Obviously the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrative construction since these may be variously modified. 1 Moreover it is not indispensible that all of the features be used conjointly, since various featuresmay be used-to advantage in different combinations and subcombinations. Having described my invention, I claim:

11.7 A flexible button of the character described comprising in combination, a one piece die and shank consisting of a short section of soft'steel wire having one end enlarged and having a die cup formed in the 2 opposite end, said section providing substantial depth beyond the bottom of the die cup to prevent penetration by an attaching fastener prong, said enlargement being fiat at the end and being enveloped by a hollow button head whose hollow interior is substantially larger than said enlargement whereby to permit said head to tilt on said enlargement, the latter serving to prevent the detachment of said head, said die cup being provided with means for engaging a pronged attaching fastener.

' 2. A flexible button of the character described comprising in combination, an integral solid 'die member enlarged at one end '4 and having a die cup formed inits opposite extremity, the latter extremity providing a base for the button, said die member serving a as the shank of the button and being of substantial depth'beyond the die cup to prevent .45 penetration by an attaching fastener prong, said die cup being provided'with means for engaging a pronged, attaching fastener, a button head consisting of a sheet metal collet which surrounds the shank of said die mem- 5 her and a sheet metal shell attached to said collet, said sheet and collet beingshaped to envelop said enlargement loosely whereby to permit said head to tilt on said shank, said enlargement being fiat at the end and serving to transmitforce ,to the die cup during the attachment of the button, said head being free to rest directly on the flat end of said enlargement during the attaching operation.

6.0 In witness ofthe foregoing I aifix my signature.

o I IRA D. FORD. 

